How to clean your bike - brought to you by Muc-Off
Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or have just recently discovered the joys of the sport, the task of cleaning your bike after a big ride will always be a daunting one. Intricate components caked in mud, your chains beginning to seize up, and the sparkle it once had is nowhere to be seen – where do you start in getting your bike back to looking fresh out the box? Fear not, My Ride has linked up with our good friends at Muc-Off, the masters of bicycle care and maintenance, to put together a guide on how to clean, protect and lube your bike.
We spoke to Rob, Muc Off’s in-house Mechanic for some advice on where to start, what products to use and what his tips and tricks are for achieving the best results.
Step 1. Clean
The first step in the clean, lube, protect process is clean. Removing all dirt, grime and muck that has attached itself to your bike from the days ride. Leaving grime and other residue on your bike can start to degrade the drivetrain and damage the frame which is why it’s important to clean your bike after each ride. With that in mind, where should we start when cleaning our bike?
What Muc-Off say: " First things first, get your Drivetrain clean, a Drivetrain being anything the bike’s chain touches. Our Bio Drivetrain Cleaner and Claw Brush or X-3 Dirty Chain Machine will make this easy work. Once you’re happy you have that clean, rinse your bike off with water and reach for the Nano Tech Cleaner. Spray the whole bike, agitating any stubborn bits with a brush or sponge and leave for a few moments before rinsing everything off."
Muc-Off steps for a successful clean
- Spray Bio Drivetrain Cleaner onto the drivetrain areas and all chain contact points. For a deep clean, use the X3 chain machine.
- Pre-rinse the bike.
- Completely coat the bike in Nano Tech Bike Cleaner.
- Use a brush and sponge to agitate those extra grimy areas.
- Wait 3-5 minutes for Muc-Off to work its magic.
- Rinse the whole bike, being careful not to blast delicate areas such as bearings.
- Clean your brake discs and pads with Disc Brake Cleaner, ensure excess residue is wiped away.
Step 2. Protect
Simply put, using bike protection products after you’ve washed your bike acts as a shield to safeguard against rust and corrosion, keeping moving parts free and lubricated, all whilst preventing dirt adhesion.
What Muc-Off say: " Since you’ve worked so hard to get your bike clean in step one, you’re going to want to make sure it stays that way. Using Bike Protect on your frame is going to drive out any moisture left over from cleaning as well as leaving a high gloss finish. The protective coating will help keep out outside elements and will also help stop mud from sticking. If your bike has a matte finish, we recommend using our Matt Detailer.
You can also use MO94 across the Drivetrain to drive out any water left from cleaning before you apply lube as this also works wonders on your derailleurs to help prevent them from getting sticky over time. Now, if you have suspension, using Silicone Shine on the stanchions will keep them running silky smooth as it leaves a super low friction coating over them. Remember, when using anything in the protectant range we always recommend not getting them on your brakes or disks so fitting our Disk Brake Covers or covering them up before starting this stage is always advised."
- Apply Disc Brake Covers (if applicable) to stop excess residue getting on your braking surfaces
- Apply Bike Protect to your frame for a protective finish – remember to avoid braking surfaces
- For matte finishes use Matt Finish Detailer to protect and quickly detail your frame – remember to wipe of excess residue
- Use MO94 over your cassette, chain and other moving metal parts to drive out moisture – remember to avoid braking surfaces
- Apply Silicon Shine to fork stanchions and rear shock for smooth suspension – remember to avoid braking surfaces
- Wipe off excess residue
Step 3. Lube.
Lube plays a huge role in reducing friction, wear, and resistance to your chain. By regularly lubing you’ll benefit from a more efficient ride, smoother shifting and a longer-lasting chain.
What Muc-Off say: " Make sure when applying the lube of your choice that you are applying onto a clean and dry chain and if you can, let it sit for a few hours before riding as this is going to give you the best results."
Which chain lube is the right lube for me?
- Hydrodynamic chain lube for professional racing in all conditions
- C3 Ceramic Wet Weather racing lube
- C3 Ceramic Dry Weather racing lube
- Dry weather conditions bio lube
- Wet weather conditions bio lube
How to apply lube?
- Rotate pedals backwards and apply the chosen lube.
- Ideally apply 3-4 hours before you ride, wiping off any excess with a cloth.
Thanks, Rob!
So, there you have it. Taking care of your prized bike is easy once you have the know-how and right equipment. Luckily, all My Ride stores have a huge range of Muc-Off products and friendly staff who will assist you each step of the way. Head in-store today or view the range online.
